Dining Etiquette (short short story)

80-year old mom’s lunch invitation included a bowl of homemade soup. But, my slurping habit disturbed her. “Dip your spoon towards you. Consume your soup quietly,” she said, wagging a knowing index finger.

I repeated the unfamiliar process several times to her satisfaction. Looking away for a moment, I turned back and gasped. She had her bowl of soup to her lips and was gurgling it down. “What are you doing?” I asked.

Barely pausing she mumbled between slurps, “This is how I get it all out.”

* * *

© Richard L. Provencher